Tire building apparatus



Aug. 7, 1945. i H. D. STEVENS 2,381,379

, TIRE BUILDIYNG APPARATUS .Filed July 17, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR ATTORNEYS .Aug. 7, 1945. Q'STEVENS 2,381,379

TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS v l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi led July 17; 1940 INVENTORR ATTORNEYS.

1945- i H. D; STEVENS 2,331,379

' TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS 7 Filed July 17; 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Aug. 7, 1945. H. D. STEVENS TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed July 17,- 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR jywaeefldaww ATTORNEYS.

Au 7, 1945. x H, D. STEVENS 2,381,379

TIRE I BUILDING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1940 A IZ SheetS-Sheet a 4 dig/a /f INVENTOR BY gg j ATTORNEYS Aug 7, 1945; H. D. STEVENS 2,381,379-

. TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed July 17; 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 I 5 INVENTOR w 7 1% flJzeaema #2 BY gr ATTORNEYS H. D.'STEVENS TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Aug. 7, 1945.

Filed Ju'l 17, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 i HUIW l IHMI 5i,

ATTORNEY$ Aug. l, 1945. I H. D. $TE\ l EN 2,331,379

- TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS a. I

Filed July 17, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1945.

H D. STEVENS TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Aug. 7, 1945. H. D. STEVENS 2,381,379 TIRE BUILDING APPARATU S Filed July 17, 1940 1?. Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-3 Aug. 7, 1945. H. D. STEVENS 7 2,381,379

T IRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed July 17; 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 v INVENTOR 62/226517 dZaw/za ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFF ICE Home 1). Stevens, Akron, Ohio, assignor to'l'he jlrestone Tire a Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 11, mo, Serial No. 345,014

Claims. (o 1s4 1 0) This invention relates to tire building apparatus, and more especially it relates to apparatus for fabricating pneumatic tire casings by the flat band" method. I

The chief object of the invention is to conserve time and manual labor' in the manufacture of tire casings of the character mentioned. More specifically, the invention aims to provide novel mechanisms for performing different tire building operations; and to provide automatically for operating certain of said mechanisms in determinate sequence. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Briefly stated, the apparatus of the invention comprises a power driven, reversible tire building drum thatis of the collapsible type and is collapsed by means of a brake that is applied to a sleeve on the rotatable spindle that supports and drives the drum. Positioned adjacent the drum are stitchers for rolling down the first and second fabric plies of a tire being constructed on the drum, at the bead regions thereof, said stitchers being of the "spring" type, that is, they consist of endless helical springs that are mounted on sheaves and are movable longitudinally upon engagement with the work. The apparatus also comprises a pair of bead placing rings that are movable into engagement with the respective ends of the drum for mounting the tire beads thereon.

- Another device associated with the drum is a pair of operation .of the tread stitching device. At the rearof the tire building drum is a rotatable stocksupply rack that carries a supply of tire-body.

fabric, chafer strips, breaker strip, and tread slabs for application to the drum during the fabrication of a tire thereon.

The foregoing elements of the apparatus and the operation thereof will be described in detail in the following specification, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, in inoperative position, the

stock-supply rack at the rear thereof being omitted; I v

- Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof as viewed from the right of Figure 1, the bead setting device being shown i Operative position;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 3A is a fragmentary detail elevation of one of the fluid pressure cylinders of the apparatus, as viewed from the rear thereof;

Figure 4 is a front elevational detail showing the "spring" stitchers, and the stitchers that fold the over-bead fabric plies around the beads:

' Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the "spring" stitchers in side elevation;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the stitching devices that folds the over-bead plies around the beads:

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the shown in Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the tire building drum and its driving means, and the bead placing rings of the apparatus, said structure rings being shown in bead placing position;

Figure 9 is a. front elevation, on a. larger scale, of one of the devices that turn the under-bead fabric plies around the beads after the latter have been applied to the drum, the device being shown in inoperative position in full lines, and in its initial operative position in broken lines;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 9 in its inoperative position:

Figure 11 is front elevation of the device shown in Figure 9 in its final operative position;

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view showing the action of one of the turn-uptools on the work;

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view showing the action of another tum-up tool on the work;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of 9. ply turn-up device. in operative position, as viewed from the right inFiBlHe 1i Figure 15 is a plan view of the turn-up tool shown in Figure 12, and its holder;

Figure 16 is a side elevation, on a larger scale,

of the side wall rolling device of the apparatus,

shown in inoperative position;

Figure 17 is a front elevation shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the tread stitching device of the apparatus, in inoperative position;

Figure 19 is an elevation of the work-engaging elements of Figure 18 shown in work-engaging or operative position;

of the structure Figure 20 is an end elevation of the tread stitching device shown in Figure 18, as viewed from the-gright thereof;

Figure 21 is a plan view-of a stock-storage rack positioned at the rear of the tire building drum;

Figure 22 is a side elevation of the stock- 1 storage rack as viewed from the near side of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a detail elevational view of the lower part of the stock-storage rack showing the arrangement for storing and delivering tread reinforce strip material and chafer strip material;

. and

mounted in the latter-is a sleeve or quill 23 that v projects laterally from the housing 2|, over said base plate 23, said quill being secured against rotation by a set screw 24. Journaled in bear- Y ings 23, 23 at the respective ends of quill 23 is a driving spindle 23 that projects beyond the opposite ends of the quill, the projecting end thereof within housing 2| being provided with a sprocket 21. Trained about the latter is a sprocket chain 23 that also is trained about a driving sprocket 23' on the shaft 30 of a speed reducing device 3| that is coupled to a reversible motor 32, the motor being located in the bottomof housing 2|. An adjustable idler gear 33 is provided for keeping the sprocket chain 23 taut.

Mounted upon the other end of the spindle 23, exteriorly of the housing 2|, is an annular collapsible tire building form or drum 33 having the usual shoulders at its opposite ends. Said form or drum 33 is of a standard construction pand the collapsed drum, the latter is rotated in the opposite direction and the brake thereafter again applied, as is well understood in this art. The mounting of tire beads upon the drum 33, during thebuilding of a tire thereon, iseffected by means of respective bead-rplacing rings l3, 33 that are positioned at opposite ends of the 'drum, normally in spaced relation thereto, and movable into engagement therewith. Each bead ring is formed with'a peripheral groove on the margin thereof nearest the drum, which groove receives a tire bead that is placed therein at the beginning of a tire building operation, the bead adhering to the tire fabric on the drum, when applied thereto, by reason of its natural tackiness. V

Bead-placing ring 43, which is designated the "inner" bead ring because it is disposed nearest the housing 2|, is rotatably Journaled upon the axial hub of a ring holder-l3, and retained thereon by means of a collar 43 on said hub. Said holder 43 is mounted upon the sleeve 33 and is capable of sliding movement longitudinally thereof, said sleeve beingrotatable relatively of said holder. For effecting axial movement of the holder 33. said holder is formed with a downwardlv extending arm 33a to which is connected the piston rod 3| of a double-acting fluid pressure operate'd cylinder 32, the latter being 'mount-' ed upon a wall of the housing 2| and being located interiorly thereof. A rubber bumper 3| is mounted upon the piston rod 3| for cushioning the impact of the armlaa against the adjacent cylinder head. i

The outer" bead ring 43 is journaled upon a stud 33 carried at the free end of a ring holder 31 that consists of a slightly angular lever arm well known to the trade, so that it is not believed necessary to show and describe herein the details of the mechanism that effects collapse thereof other than to say that collapsing .of the drum, and subsequent restoration thereof to annular shape, is effected by means of relative angular movement between the spindle 23 and a tubular sleeve 33 that is Journaled upon the quill 23, exteriorly thereof, a bearing bushing 31 being interposed between said quill and sleeve. The outer end of the sleeve 33 extends into the drum 35 and is connected to the collapsing mechanism thereof by suitable means (not shown). The

opposite end of the sleeve 33 abuts the outer end of bracket 22, and is formed thereat with an integral brake drum 33 that is embraced by a brake band 33. One end of the latter is connected to an eye-bolt 30 that is adjustably mounted in an anchoring structure 3| fixed upon the housing 2|. At its other end the brake band 33 is secured to one arm of an angular brake lever 32 that is pivotally mounted at its elbow at 43 upon the housing 2|, the other arm of the lever constitutinga hand-grip portion. The arrangement is such that when the hand-grip portion of the lever 32 is pulled forwardly, the brake band 33 is tightened about the brake drum, with the result that if the brake drum'is being rotated in the direction that it normally rotates durin the building of a tire, relative rotative movement of the spindle 23 and brake-sleeve 33 will effect collapse of the drum. When it is desired to exthat is pivotally mounted at 33 upon a slide 33, the latter being carried by and between a pair of spaced-apart horizontal slide-bars or rails 33,

3|! that are supported by a pair of brackets. 3|. 32 mounted upon the bed plate". The slide 33 is positioned between the brackets", 32, and its movement in one direction is limited by bracket 32. For moving the slide 33 longitudinally of the rails 33, said slide is connected at one of its endsto the piston rod 33 of a double-acting fluid pressure operated cylinder 33, the latter being supported at its rear end by a rod 33 carried by and between the rails 30, at the ends thereof nearest the housing 2|.

nection 33, the free end of said portion 31a being connected to a clevis 33 having a stem 33 that extends through a swivel 13, the latter being The arrangement is such that the arm 31 con-- stitutes a lever of the third class, the fulcrum of the lever being at the clevis 33 and power being applied to the lever at the' pivot point 53. Thus it will be seen that by charging opposite ends 'of the cylinder 33 the slide 39 may be reciprocated, 1

thereby moving the lever arm 31 between the inoperative position shown in Figure 1 and the operative, bead applying position shown in Flaures 2 and 8. The operation of the cylinder 33 is effected eoncurrentlywith the operation of cylinder, 32 so that both bead rings are applied to the drum 33 at the same time. 7

In the building of a tire upon the drum 33. the first step is the application of twopiles of tire The ring-holder arm 31 has a portion 31a that extends downwardly through a slot in slide 33, below the pivotal con-,

' monly are called "under bead" plies.

. above the sheave 95.

building fabric to the drumy which plies -'co'mstep is ,the rolling down or stitching of the lateral marginal portions of said plies so that they conform to-the shoulders or reduced portions of the drum at opposite ends thereof. The rollingdown 'ol the under bead plies as described is effected by a pair of "spring" stitchers, the same being best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The mechanism referred to-as springstitchers is essentially the same as that shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,981,828, issued November 20, 1934, to F. J. Shook. For this reason only a brief description of the mechanism will be given, and no claim to the mechanism per se will be made.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the stitchin mechanism mentioned is located at the rear of the drum 35 and comprises a standard I4 that-is mounted upon bed plate 28, and slidably mounted upon the top of said standard is an elongated base member I5, the latter vbeing adjustable transversely, in a fore and aft direction, so as to approach or recede from the drum 85, an adjusting screw .18 being provided for this purpose. The top of the base member I5 is formed asa slideway for a pair of spaced apart slides 11, 11

that are. positioned atopposite sides of the centerline of the standard H, and are individually adjustable longitudinally of their slideway by means of respective adjusting screws -I8. Mounted upon the tops of slides 11, near the adjacent ends thereof, are respective turntables I8 that have limited angular adjustability. 1 Each of said turntables carries a stitching device, and.

since the latter are identical, a description of one,

of them will be sufficient.

The next .Each turntable I8 is formed at diametrically opposite pointswith upwardly extending lugs or ears III, 8| that pivotallysupport a guide structure 82, and the latter is formed with arms 83, 83 that project laterally at right angles to the pivotal axis of the structure, on opposite sides of said axis, and have respective set'screws 84 threaded through their free ends. The screws 84 engage the top of the turntable I8 andprovide means for adjusting, the position of the guide structure angularly upon its horizontal pivot on the turntable. 'I'heguide structure comprises a pair of upwardly extending parallel, spaced apart side plates 85, 85, the upper ends of which are curved toward thev drum and carry a pivot pin 86, there being a bell" crank lever 81 journaled on the latter between said side plates. One arm of the bell 'cr'ank'lever extends rearwardly and is connected by the side plates 88.

The other arm of the bell crank lever 81 carries a rod 92 that extends substantially downwardly and at its lower end carries a slipper 83 thatis slidably mounted in an arcuate guide slot formed in the guide structure 82, between theside plates 85 thereof, the slot being'of such length that the slipper remains therein in all positions of the bell crank 81. The slipper 83 carries a laterally projecting stub-shaft 84 on which is journaled' a peripherally grooved sheave 95, and a similar sheave 86 is journaled on a stub-shaft 91 that is carried by -a block '88 that is slidably mounted for angular and longitudinal adjustability upon the rod 82, at a suitable distance Trained about the sheaves 85,86 isjan endless, extensible, tire building tool 88' consistingi of an endless coiled spring.

The arrangement is such that charging of the cylinder 88 swings-the bell crank lever 81 in such manner as to move the spring tool 88 from the inoperative position shown in full lines in Figure 5 to the operative position shown in broken lines in the same figure, wherein said tool engages the 'work on the drum 35. By reason of the adjustability of the various elements that support the tools 88, it is possible to position them exactly as desired with relation to the drum 35. As is best shown in Figure 4, the spring stitchers 88 are not parallel to each other andto the plane of the drum 35, but are somewhat obliquely disposed so as to engage the tire plies on the drum at the largest diameter of the latter, and progressively to fold the marginal portions of the. fabric down over the shoulders of the drum at the opposite ends of the latter, the spring tools moving longitudinally, about the sheaves 85, 88, as they are frictionally drivenby rotation of the drum. Tension sprirlgs I88 connected to the respective pivot pins 88 and cross heads 88 assist gravity in restoring the spring stitchers to inoperative position when the cylinders 88 are discharged. The spring stitchers are arranged to operate concurrently with each other, and in determinate time relation to other devices of the apparatus as presently will be explained.

After the first two fabric plies are applied to the drum 35, the margins of said plies stitched down over the shoulders of the drum by the spring stitchers 89 as described, and the tire beads mounted on the shoulders of the drum by the bead-setting devices previously ds'cribed, it is next required that the marginal portions of the under: bead fabric plies be turned up about the beads, which operation is performed by a pair of turnup devices shown in their entirety in Figure 1, and shown in detail, on a larger scale, in Figures 9 to 15 inclusive.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a supporting structure for a pair of the ply tumup devices, which structure consistsof a.- relatively narrow and elongated beam I83 that rests at one end upon an angle I88 secured to the housing 2|, and at its other end rests upon a bracket I85 mounted atop of the bracket 82. Mounted on the adjustable longitudinally of the beam I83 for the purpose of positioning the ply tum-up tools accurately with relation to the opposite ends of the drum 35. p

Each of the slide bars I88, at its end farthest from the other slide bar, has a single-acting fluid pressure cylinder I88 mounted thereon, and at its other end has a fluid pressure cylinder I88, the axes of said cylinders being horizontally disposed, but offset laterally from each other. The cylinders I88 are arranged with their closed ends confronting each other, and with piston rods projecting from their opposite ends. Each cylinder I88 is formed, at its endfrom which its piston rod projects, with a pair of upwardly and axially extending arms I I8, I I8 in the free ends of which is J'ournaled a pivot pin III, andmounted upon the latter between said arms'is a gear, segment I I 2 that it meshed with rack teeth I I3 formed on the upper face of a square, piston rod II4 of ends to a fixed point posite side of the "a slideway formed in a piston rod support III that is mounted on slide bar Ill. The arrangement is such that when the cylinder I is charged, the piston rod II4 thereof is projected outwardly, thereby turning the gear segment II2 angularly from theposition shown in full lines in Figures 9 and 10 to the position shown inbroken lines in Figure 9, and in full lines in Figure 11. when the cylinder I" is discharged, the piston rod H4 is retracted by means of a tension spring II! that is connected at one of its its other end to a stud I II that projects laterally from the piston rod near the outer end thereof. It is the gear segments II2 that carry the workengaging tools of the ply turn-up devices.

To this end one of the radial margins of each segment II2 has a supporting pin or arm I2Il mounted therein and disposed perp ndicular to said margin, the latter being disposed in vertical position in the inoperative position of the device ly engage the work after the latter has been engaged by the tool I24, and to this end means operating subsequent to the angular movement on the cylinder I" and at as shown in full lines in Figure 9 and in Figure 11.

Mounted upon the supporting pin I20, near the free end thereof, is an adjusting block I that is adjustable axially and angularly of the 'pin I20, and adjustably carried by said block I for axial and angular adjustment thereon is the stem I22 of a toolholder I28, the latter carrying aiiat, blade-like tool I24. The tool I24 has a notch I24a at one end and tail-like portion I24b at its other, there being a rounded lateral projection I24c near said notched end. The lateral projection l24c is beveled on one side of the tool and the tail portion I24b is beveled on the op- 7 tool. The operative function of the tool I24 is best understood with reference to Figures 12- and 14 wherein it is shown in operative relation to the drum '5 and work thereon, the

I latter consisting of two under-bead fabric plies I25, and a tire bead I2 mounted upon the latter at the shoulder of the drum. The drum being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 14, angular movement of the gear segment I I2 swings the supporting pin: I 2. in such a manner asto carry the tool I24 into engagement with the drum 3!, the lateralprojection I240 01 the tool 'of the gear se'gment H2 is provided for moving the tool I2. into engagement with the work.

, For supporting the tool I20, an adjusting block Ill is mounted upon supporting pin I2. between the segment H2 and the adjusting block I2I thereon, said block III being axially and angularly adjustable on said pin. The adjusting block I" supports a swivel block I82 that is provided with a stem or'post I", the latter being adjustably clamped in said block III. The swivel block is disposed on that side of the adjusting block III that is nearest the drum II when the turn-up device is in the operative positions shown inFiguges ,11 and 14, and the stem m of said swivel block is disposed at right angles to the pin I2l. swiveled in the swivel block I32, on an axis perpendicular to the stem I", is the stem I24 of a clamp I25. Mounted for axial adjustment in the latter is an arm or shaft I" that projects from both sides of said clamp and on one end thereof carries an adjustably mounted tool-block III upon which is swiveled the tool I20. 'A tension spring I connected at one of its ends to the Y tool-block I31 and at'its other end to the adjustmg block I2I yieldingly urges the structure carried by the swiveled clamp I" to the inoperative positions shown in Figures 9 and 10. Movement of the said structure under the impetus of said spring is limited by a collar I" that is mounted upon the arm I and which bears against the adjusting block III in the inoperative position of said structure.

The arrangement is such that the structure mounted on the swivel block I32 is moved from the position shown in full lines in Figure 9 to the position shown in broken lines therein by the angular movement of gear segment II2, when moved counter-clockwise as viewed in said fisure,-which movement carries the rotary tool I2! entering between the fabric plies I2! and the sloping shoulder of the drum on which they lie, and

' thereby turning the marginal portions of said plies outwardly onto the adjacent face of the bead structure I 28, as is best shown in Figure 12.

is clearly shown in Figure 14, the tool I24 in operative position is disposed tangentially of the drum and the bead I28, so that the marginal portion of the piles I25 turned outwardly by the projection I240 of the tool I24 are further engaged by the tail portion l24b of the tool and folded farther about the bead I26, as the rotatthe said tool.

turn-up device. The movement of the tool I24 toward the drum 2! initially is slow, with its final movement more rapid, so as more eiilciently to engage the work on the drum, the said change in speed being effected by controlling the rate at which .the cylinder I is charged.

The said second turn-up tool is a rotatable disc of the margins of plies- I" about said head. For this reason it is necessary that the disc I2! initialto a position in laterally spaced relation to the end of the drum and the tire bead being built thereon. For subsequently moving the said tool into operative engagement with the tire bead,

to press down the marginal portions of the fabric plies I25 thereon, a lever I" is provided,

which lever is pivotalLv mounted intermediate its ends upon the pivot pin I II, beside the rear supporting arm III of the latter; The upper end of the lever MI is formed with a'nose portion I 4Ia, which normally is in the inoperative position shown in Figures 9 and 10, and is disposed in spaced relation to the shaft I", at the end thereof remote from the tool I29, in both positions of the pin shown'in' Figure 9. The lever ing drum moves the work thereon relatively of Thus the fabric plies are in position to be engaged by a second tool of the ply MI is angularly movable upon its pivot, and when so moved the nose portion I4Ia thereof engages the adjacent end of the shaft I38 and moves the latter and the structures carried thereby-vangularly about the pivot. consisting of the stem I34, with the result that the tool I29 is moved, against the tension of spring I38, into engagement with the bead portion of the work, as is shown in Figures 11 and 14. .In Figure 13 the function of the tool I29 in "rolling down the marginal portions of the under-bead piles I25 upon the bead I2 is clearly shown.

The moving of the lever I4I as described is effected by the fluid pressure cylinder I", and to this end the piston rod I44 thereof (Figure 3A) has a clevis I46 adjustabiy affixed inits outer end, said clevis embracing the lever I4I, below the pivot II I thereof,and carrying a pin l4! that the housing 2| extends through a slot II'I disposed longitudiy'in said lever. The arrangement is such that when the cylinder I is charged, its piston Means by which the cylinder I00 is operated in determinate time relation to the operation of the cylinder I00 presently will be described.

The spring stitcher devices, the bead mount- Y ing devices, and the ply turn-up devices maybe and preferably are operated automatically in the sequence mentioned, and to this end a suitable controller or timing device is provided. which device is located in the casing I00 mounted upon the front of the housing II. Said controller may be of any standard or preferred construction. no novelty being claimed for it so that no detail dee scription thereof need be given here. The said controller is electrically operated, and is set in operation by means of a switch button III on a switch box III. that also is. located on the front of housing II. "forward" and reverse buttons I50, I04 that control the direction of rotation of the drum 00. A second switch box I00 mounted on the front of contains manually operable switches for effecting manual operation of the several devices of the apparatus when automatic operation is not desired.

The primary control of cylinders I00 is in the switch mechanism mentioned,- but the control of the speed of admission of fluid thereto, and the control of the fluidpressure cylinders I00 is effected by other meansunder control of cylinder- I00. To this end suitable toggle valves are mounted in the pipes that conduct fluid to said cylinders, which valves are operated in proper sequence by the movement of piston rod III of one of the cylinders I00, it being understood that both cylinders I00 and cylinders I00 are connected to supply pipes common to each pair of cylinders. The aforesaid valves are shown in Figure 1 wherein I00 designates a pilot valve in a high pressure fluid supply line connecting with cylinders I00, I00 designates a valve in the fluid supply line common to cylinders I00,- and I00 designates an exhaust valve in the supply line of the cylinders I00. The operating toggle levers of valves I00, I00 are engaged by an operating block IOI thatis slidably mounted for movement atop of the valves, the toggle levers extending through slots in said block and being so arranged therein as to operate in sequence when said block is moved. Thus when the block III is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 1, the lever of valve I00 first is operated, followed by valve 100, the arrangement providing delayed action of the latter. A somewhat similar operating block I0: is mounted atop of valve I00 in engagement with the toggle lever thereof. The blocks III, I02 are moved to effect operation of the respective valves by means of the piston roll Ill ofthe cylinder I00 at the left of the apparatus as viewed in Figure 1, and to this end the stud IIO, to which the spring III is connected, carries a block I03 that is,disposed between the operating blocks IOI, I02 and in alignment therewith. when the apparatus is in the inoper ative position shown in Figure 1, the block' In is in The switch box I02 also includes I engagement with block I02 and the latter holds the valve Ill open so that cylinder III is in evacuated condition, the piston rod lfloof the cylinder being in retracted position under the force of tension spring I40. when the cylinders I00. are charged through the agency of the timing device, low pressure fluid admitted to them slowly moves their piston rods Ill outwardly, the

first result being that block I03 moves away from block I02 and permits valve I00 to close the discharge port of cylinder I00. Subsequently block I00 engages block III and moves it to the left as viewed in Figure 1, the first result being to operate and open valve I00 and thereby admit fluid under high pressure to cylinder I00 so as quickly and strongly to move 'the piston rod thereof to fully projected position. The opening of valvethe block I00 thereon is restored to point of starting. This moves said block against block I02 to open valve I00 and thereby to evacuate cylinders I00, the springs I thereof returning their piston rods to retracted position.

In the building of pneumatic tire casings with the apparatus described, after the under-bead fabric and the beads have been applied. and the margins of said plies have been turned up about the beads, the next operations are the ap lying of the over-bead-fabric plies to the structure on the building drum, applying two chafer strips to the marginal portions of the over-bead piles and applying a tread reinforcing ply to the m dial region thereof, and finally applyin the tread slab to tire structure, said tread slab including sidewall material. The said constituent elements of the tire are applied thereto as the drum rotates, and they are drawn onto the drum from a over-bead fabric require to be rolled downwardly about the bead portions of the tire. The rolling down of the tread slab andthe side walls may be performed concurrently since the devices for doing the same engage the work at different.

regions thereof, the fabric tum-down operation being performed immediately thereafter.

The apparatus for rolling down the sidewalls of the tire structure, which is shown in detail in Figures 16 and I7, comprises a supporting bracket I00 and is secured to the top of the beam I00, at the middle thereof, between the adjacent ends of the slide bars I00, said bracket extending rearwardly from said beam and being provided with an upstanding arm Ill which pivotally supports one end of a forwardly extending slightly angular bar I01. The free end of the latter is pivotally connected at III to a clevis I00 that has a downwardly extending stem that is threaded into the outer end of the piston rod ill of a vertically disposed double acting fluid at their upper ends pressure operated cylinder 'I1I. The arrangement is such that. charge and discharge of the cylinder I1I moves the bar. I91 up and down angularly about its pivotal connection with the arm I99. The cylinder I'll is pivotally supported at its lower end upon a bracket I12, Figures 1 and 2, that is mounted upon the rail-supporting members I99 at opposite 'ends thereof, which .members are disposed obliquely with relation to the bed plate 29, and are positioned radially with relation to the axisof drum 99. The'lateral members I99 are of channel shape with their channelled faces confronting each other, there being a tie plate I9I connecting the lower ends of said members. ,Slidably mounted in the channel of each member I99 for movement longitudinally thereof is an elongated slide bearing I92, and the latter are connected to each other by a horizontal tie bar I99. Mounted onthe latter at the middle thereof is a coupling member I94 that is adjustably connected to the piston rod of a double acting fluid pressure cylinder I99 by means of an adjusting screw I99. The cylinder by pivot pins I11. The other ends of spindles I19 are pivotallyconnected at of respective spring pins I19, the lower ends of the latter slidably extending through respective apertures in the plate I14' and retained therein by cotter pins I99 or the like extending through their end portions below said plate. Compression springs I9I mounted upon the respective pins I19 between the plate I14 and washers I92 movement of said spring pins. J ournaled on each spindle I19 are two work-pressing rollers I99, I99 respectively of which rollers I94 are disposed near the pivots I11 of the spindles, the rollers of each pairsubs'tantially abutting-each other and being retained in proper. position on the spindles by collars I95 on the latter. The perimeters of the rollers I99, I94 are somewhat arcuate in an axial direction; and the rollers I99 have a deeply knurled or. toothed surface When the device iselevated by the operation of cylinder "I, from the position shown in full lines to the position indicated in broken lines in Figure 16, each pair of rollers" I99, I94 comes into contact with the tread and sidewall slab of a tire struc-- ture being built on drum 99, laterally 'of the medial region of said slab. The charging of the cylinder I 1I to raise the rollers I99, I99 is ef-; iected slowly, and the yielding supports at the adjacent ends of the spindles I19 enable the rollers to rock on the sidewall portions of the tread slab so that engagement of the rollers, with said sidewall portions is progressive and toward the lateral margins of the slab. The function of the sidewall rollers is to assist in the prevention of bulges or buckles in the sidewall portions of the tread slab as the latter is rolled down concurrently therewith by a tread stitching device presently to be described. The drum 3! rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure l6 exerts a rearwardly ,directed strain upon the pins I19, so that lateral support is required for them. To this end a small backing plate I99 is provided on the bar I91, said plate beihg positioned at the rear of the pins I19 so that collars I92 on said pins bear against said plate.

The tread stitching device of the apparatus is located rearwardly'of the sidewall rolling device previously described, as will be apparent from reference to Figure 2, and is shown in detail, on a larger scale, in Figures 18 to 20 inclusive, to

- which reference now is directed. Said tread stitcher comprises a frame structure that is des- -...-igna.ted as a whole by the numeral I99, said .Jrame being mounted upon bed plate 29 beneath the drum 99, 'rearwardly of the vertical axial plane of the latter. Said'frame comprises lateral I19 to the upper ends yieldingly' resist downward I99 is mounted upon the tie plate I9I, and its axis'is disposed radially of the drum 9!, the arrangement being such that the slide bearings I92 are raised and lowered in unison as opposite ends of the cylinder I99 are alternately charged and discharged. For charging the lower end of cylinder I99 to raise said slide bearings, a foot-operated valve I91 is mounted upon the tie plate I9I,

'said valve also controlling the concurrent charging of the lower end of cylinder ill, but more slowly due to the interposition of a speed control valve (not'shown). v

Mounted upon, the confronting faces of the slide bearings I92, I92 are respective brackets 299, each of which isprovidedwith a stud 29I that projects laterally parallel to the tie bar I93.

Mounted upon each stud 29I is a spacer collar 292, and a hinge bracket 299, there being a plate 299 carried by said hinge brackets. A stop plate or abutment 299. Figure 18, is secured to the under side of the latter, in the middle thereof. The, lateral members I80 are connected by an upper cross piece 299 to the middle of which is secured an internally threaded fixture 291 hav-- ing an adjustable stop-screw 299 threaded therein, the stop plate 299 of the plate 294 resting upon said stop-screw 299 in the inoperative position of the device shown in Figures 18 and 29. Since the brackets 299 are secured to the slide bearings I92 and the stop-screw 299 is secured to a stationary frame member, it will be apparent that the plate 294 will tilt angularly about the pivot studs 29I whenever the slide bearings are moved upwardly.

The upper end of each slide bearing I92 is i formed with a suitable longitudinally disposed 'slideway in which is mounted a slide 2I9 that,

normally is urged upwardly against an end cap by y a compression spring 2 mounted beneath it in said slideway. Non-rotatably supported at its respective ends in said slides is a horizontal bar or screw 2I2, the upwardly presented half of which is formed with screw threads 2I9, 2I9, of which those at one side of the middle are right-hand threads and those at the other side of the middle are left-hand threads. The screw 2I2 is formed with a flange 2I9 at its middle. Mounted upon the screw 2I2, at each side of the medial flange 2I9 thereof, are respective axially threaded nuts 2I5, the confronting end faces of which are provided with discs 2 I 9 that constitute work-engaging tread stitching tools. Each nut 2I5 is backed by a thrust bearing 2 I1 on which is mounted a thrust disc 2I9, and secured to the latter is the small end of a tapered compression spring 2I9 that is mounted upon the screw 2| 2, the la rge end of said spring being secured to a'spring disc 229 that is non-rotatably mounted upon the screw 2 I 2 at the outer end thereof adjacent the slide 2I9.

The springs 2I2 normally urge the nuts 2" and discs thereon toward juxtaposition at the middle of the screw 2I2, as shown in Fig. 18. The arrangement is such that when the slide bearings I92 are moved upwardly, the discs 2I2 are brought into engagement with the work on the drum 2,5, and rotated by reason of the rotation of the latter. Pressure of the discs 2I9 against the work assures that the nuts 2I5 have threaded engagement with the half-threads 2I2 of the screw 2I2.

with the result that rotation of the drum in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 20'efi'ects disc tools 2I9, the latter move into abutting reprises all of its constituent elements, as is best shown in Fig. 18. Thus, the work-structure includes the under-bead fabric plies I25 and tire beads I25 previously described, over-bead fabric plies 222, chafer strips 224, 224, tread reinforce 225, and 'the tread and sidewall-slab 226. The function of the stitcher discs 2I5 is to roll said plies compactly together, and to fold the outer operation is effected by'devices presently to be described. Said devices are set in operation and continue to operate 'for a determinate time interval under control of an electrically driven timing device (not shown), which timing device is set in motion by the closing of an electric switch 222, the device being self-stopping after the ply turn-down devices have executed a cycle of operation. The switch 222 is mounted upon a bracket on the frame member I99, below valve 229, and

has a hinged operating lever 222 that projects into the path of a-,dog 224 mounted'upon slide bearing I92. The hinged lever 222 is so arranged that the dog 294 will move past the same without operating the switch during the rising movement of the slide bearing: the switch being operated by the dog during descent of the slide bearing.

The arrangement is such as automatically to'initiate the succeeding operation on the work structure as the tread stitching operation is concluded. 1 The ply turn-down devices that perform the final tirebuilding operation are two in number, and are positioned at opposite ends of the drum 9 95 so as to operate on the material over the ends marginal portions of the fabric plies 222 and chafer strips 224 radially inwardly over the outer faces of the beads I25, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 18. During the major portion of the tread stitching operation, the piston rod of the cylinder I95 is not in its fully projected position, and does not reach fully projected position until the discs 2 it pass off the lateral margins of the work structure and thereby enable the slide bearings to be moved to their extreme elevated position by the' to extreme position is utilized for effecting the reversing of the cylinders I95 and III, and to this end a toggle valve 229 is mounted upon one of the lateral members I99 of the frame of the tread stitching device, the toggle or operating lever of said valve projecting into the path of a dog 239 that is mounted upon the slide bearing I92 in said frame member I99. The valve 229 is operatively connected to the fluid pressure lines that operate cylinder I95, the operation ofsaid valve ,229 serving to'eifect the discharge of the lower end of cylinder I95 and the charging of the upper end thereof, whereby the stitcher discs 2I6 of the drum. The turn-down devices are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and on a larger scale are shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. Each of the ply turndown devices is mounted upon a base casting or standard 229, and the latter are mounted upon the respective slides 'I'I so as to be adjusted toward and from the building drum 35 concurrently with the spring stitcher devices previously described; The two ply turn-down devices are of identical construction so that a description of one of them will be sufficient.

The top of each standard 238 is formed with a slideway 249 in which is mounted a slide block 24I, the said slideway being disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of the slide 71. The arrangement is such the slide block 2 is movable obliquely toward and away from the shoulcylinder 242 are controlled by the previously mentioned timing deviceinot shown). Mounted upon the top of the slide block 2 is a stitcher slide 244 that comprises an upstanding portion disposed substantially entirely at one side of the central vertical plane of the said slide block.

.Formed on a lateral face of the upstanding portion of slide 244, near the bottom thereof, is a clamping fixture 24 5 in which is adjustably mounted a tubular holder 24'! that is disposed on a horizontal axis that is parallel to the slideway 249. Mounted in the holder 241 and projec'ting therefrom toward the drum 35 is,a springbacked stud 249, the outer end of which carries a rotatable stitcher disc 249. A pin.259 in stud 249 projects laterally into a slot extending longitudinally of holder 247 for preventing angular movement of the stud in the holder, while enabling the stud to move axially, relatively of the holder. Another rotatable stitcher disc 252 is 'journaled on the outer end of an arm 252 that is pivotally mounted upon a pivot block 254 that is-carried by the upstanding portion of slide 244 and projects laterally therefrom. Between the the arm 253 that is remote from the stitcher disc 252 carries a cam roller 256 on the under side thereof, which roller is adapted to cooperate with a face cam 265 that is adjustably mounted in a stationary upstanding bracket. 26l that is mounted upon the standard 266. The forward end of the cam 266 is beveled,as shown in Fig. 6,

l and the cam roller 256 is moved on the beveled end of the cam in the operative position of the device, as the cylinder 242 moves the slide 244 and parts carriedthereby forwardly toward the drum 35. When the cam roller 259 is on cam 266, the angular position of the arm 256'is such that its free end is moved somewhat outwardly from the bottom of its slot 255, against the tension of the spring 251, in which position of the arm the stitcher disc 252 on the end thereof will approach the drum 65 laterally of the shoulder thereof, as the slide 244 moves toward the drum. When the cam roller 256 moves of! the cam 266 at the limit of the operative movement of the slide, the spring 251 swings the arm 253 on its pivot into'the bottom of slot 255, thus moving the stitcher disc 252 on an are into engagement with the tire structure on the drum.

A third rotatable stitcher disc 264 is journaled 35 on the outer end of an arm 265 that is pivotally mounted upon a pivot block 266 that is carried by the-upstanding ortion of the slide 244, above the similar block 254. Between the block 266 and the disc-end of the arm 265, the latter is received in and guided by a horizontal slot 261 in the flange 256 of slide 244. The end of the arm 265 that is remote from the stitcher disc 264 is pivotally connected by the means of links 266 to a stud 266 that is secured to the outer end of the piston rod 210 of a double acting fluid pressure operated cylinder 2", the latter being mounted upon the upstanding portion'of slide 244 with its piston rod projecting therethrough. Thus by charge and discharge of opposite ends of the. cylinder 2" the arm 265 may-be moved .angularly about its pivot on the block 266 to swingthe stitcher disc 264 in an arc similarto the arcuate movement of disc 252 previously described, but to greater extent. Such movement of the disc 264 is necessary in order that it may reach its operative position against the inner circumference of the head portion of a tire being built on drum 35, as shown in Figure 6.

When the slide 244 is in retractedposition, the piston 216 of cylinder 2 also is in retracted position, and the disc 264 is disposed laterally of its operative position. This position oi. the

disc 254 is maintained until the slide 244 is moved toward the drum 65 and substantially reaches the operative position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the rear end 'of cylinder 2" is charged to project the piston-rod 216 and thereby to swing the arm 265 angularly to move disc 254 into engagement with the work. The charging of the rear end of cylinder 211 is effected in determinate time relation to the movement of the slide 244, and to this end a toggle valve 214, that controls the admission of fluid to the rear end of cylinder 2", is mounted upon a supporting bracket 215 on the side of" standard 266, the operating lever 01 said valve 214 projecting into the path of a pivotally mounted dog 216 carried by a bracket 211 projecting laterally" from the arm 266. Thearrangement is such that when the slide 244 is moved toward the drum 65, the dog 216 will engage and tilt the toggle lever of valve 214 to charge the rear end oi cylinder 21!. The timing device (not shown) that controls the. reversing of cylinder 242 also controls the reversing of cylinder 211. and the front end of the latter is charged, to effect arcuate movement of the disc 264 away from the work, immediately prior'to the charging of the front end of cylinder 242 to retract the slide 24l. As the latter is retracted, the pivotal mounting of the dog 216 enables it to tilt as it passes over the toggle of valve 214, without operating said valve.

The stitcher discs 246, 242, and 264 are arranged to engage a tire structure being built on drum 65, at. the bead portion of said tire structure, and to fold the marginal portions over the overhead i'abric plies 226 and chafer strip 224 inwardly about said bead portion, as is clearly shown inFig. 6. This folding of the marginal material is progressively eflected by the stitcher I in the order named as the drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7.

All of the various constituent elements of the tire structure on the drum", with the exception of the bead rings thereon, are withdrawn from a supply structure disposed at the rear of the tire building apparatusv The said elements of the tire structure are withdrawn from the supply structure by the pull of the rotating drum to which their leadi'ng' ends have been attached, most of the building elements being carried by the supply structure in continuous lengths. The

a said supply structure which is shown in Figs. 21

to 24 of the drawings, is an improvement upon the stock supply structure constituting the subject matter of my earlier U. S. Patent No. 2,045,534, issued June 23, 1936.

As shown in said figures, the stock supply structure comprises an open frame or base structure 266 upon which is rotatably mounted a superstructure or turntable 2" that turns about an axis 262. Mounted upon the turntable 26l are four stock-supply stations designated A, B, and C, D respectively. Stations A and B are disposed diametrically opposite each other and are of identical construction, one of said stations storing rubberized fabric for the under-bead plies Means controlled by the operator of the apparatus is provided for indexing or rotating the 'turn-.

table, at a time, to bring the respective sta-v tions of the turntable into juxtaposition with the tire building drum 65, to enable withdrawal of stock .from the respective stations as needed. As the various stations are depleted of stock, they are replenished during intervals when they are positioned removed from the building drum. Since the stations A and B'" are identical and are substantially similar to the subject matter of my prior patent aforementioned, a brief description of one of them will sufllce.

As is best shown in Fig. 24, fabric storagestation A comprises an upright framewori: 264 in 

